Washing machine



Nov. 19, 1929.

M. A. DEFI BAUG H WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1927 INVENTEIR Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARK'A. DEFIBAUGH, OF'IEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O .AL'IORFER BROS. GOMPANY,

- OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS WASHING MACHINE Application filed February'28, 1927. Serial No. 171,459.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to the manner of disposing the water-impelling m mber withln the stationary-tub thereof. N

One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of a stationary washing machine tub and a water-agitating or' impeller member disposed therein and means for adjusting the vertical position of said impeller within the stationary tub.

Another object is in the provision of a water-impelling member, the same being adapted to be moved in a reciprocatory manner, and manually adjustable mechanism for varying the vertical position of said impeller with respect .to a tub member.

Still another object is in the provision of a stationary tub, a water-impelling member adapted for reciprocatory motion therein adjacent the bottom thereof, said tub having a radial depression upon its bottom portion and manually adjustable means for varying the vertical position of said water impeller in such manner that the position of the periphery of the impeller maybe adjusted'in the radial depression. a

A further object lies in the provision of a. tub member having a radial depression therein, an impeller .capable" of reciprocatory movement disposed adj acentthe bottom of the tub, said impeller having its periphery fashioned in such ,manner that it reciprocates within the depression in the bottom of the tub, and mechanism for adjusting the position of the impeller withrespect to the radial depression.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship of the impeller to the washing machine tub; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing in enlarged detail the adjustable mounting for the bladed impeller.

Referringto the drawings, in Fig 1 there is shown a stationary washing machine tub, said tub comprising the vertical side walls 10 and the bottom portion 11. The tub has not adapted to lie partially been shown in detail, inasmuch as same might be in manyshapes or forms.

The bottom 11 of the tub has a radial depression 12 formed therein, as may be clearly seen in Fig.1 of the drawings. A supporting bracket 13' is either attached to the bottom of the tub at a point therebelow, or may form an integral part of the tub. Screw threaded,

as at 14, into an opening in the portion 13,

is a supporting column 15. This-column is flared, as at 16, at a point adjacent the bottom of the tub, and between the flared portion 16 and the bottom of the tub is ordinarily disposed a gasket 17 providing a water-tight mechanisms might be utilized for the desired said block assuming such shape as will obviate the necessity of some connecting, means between the'later to be, described impeller and the block, to provide a drivingconnection.

Awater agitator or impeller is shown generally at 22, said impeller comprising the upwardly projecting stem 23, the bladed wateragitating members 24 and the disk portion 25, the periphery of which is downturned in the manner disclosedat 26," said periphery being within the beforementioned radialdepression 12.

In the drawings, the stem 23 is a die-cast metal member, while it appears that the disk HOW'.

and bladed members 24.,are cast metal. ever the particular fashioning of the stem, bladed and diskportions is not material,'as far as the present invention is concerned,

and might be either cast, die-cast metal or any'other material that would be suitable for the purpose. Within the stem 23, and adjanecting member 27, which has an openin therein of exactly the same shape as the bloc 21 and adapted to fit over said block 24 not only to .provide a vertically removable connection therewith, but also to provide a satisfactory driving connection,

The impeller is supported at its upper end by the above mentioned driving connection; However, at the lower end, there is found a supporting member 28, screw-threaded as at 29 to the lower part of the column 15. A bearing 30 conforming to the shape of the supporting member 28, rovides means for centering the impeller at 1ts lower end. Adjustably screw threaded at a point below the supporting member 28 is a lock nut 31.

With respect to the above construction, it

' might be stated that same generally conforms to a well'known type of Washing machine,

, which has 'a water agitator or impeller memher disposed adjacent the bottom of the tub. However, ordinarily, in such construction, the agitator is either raised slightly above the bottom of the tub and reciprocated at this point, or the bottom of the tub is formed in r a sort of basin-like manner and the agitator disposed therein. This fashioning of the bottom of the tub in a basin-like manner, with the disposition of the agitator therein, not

' only necessitates the use of a larger amount of material, butalso reduces the efficiency of the agitator, due tothe necessity of locating same within said sump-like structure;

Applicant desires thattheperiphery of the agitator lie as closely to the bottom .of the tub aspossible in ordertoprevent thepassage of material being washed beneath the agitator, as well as to revent lod ing of extraneous matter beneat the perip er of the disk, which condition has been foun in many instances,

to prevent the eflicient operation .of the machine. "Applicant, by a. simple arrangement of parts, namely, the stamping of a radial depression in the bottom of the tub and the projection of the periphery of the disk into said depression overcomes any disadvantage that might attend the usual reciprocation of an impeller above the bottom of the tub and at the same time retains the advantages as far as the washing action is concerned.

, Applicant also realizing that in mass production of washing machines, no matter how great the attention-given to the fashioning vided amanually adjustable means for vary ing the vertical position of the water impeller to take care of any mechanical imperfections that may naturally arise when the vertical position of the water agitator, we find that the support28, which carrles the bearing 29, may be raised or lowered by thereof, a vertical drive shaft projecting upwardly through said opening, a supporting column for said drive shaft, a water-impelling member comprising a disk having a plurality of blades thereon, a stem merging with said disk and blades surrounding thejcolumn, a driving connection between said stem and the vertical shaft, means for centering the disk adjacent the bottom of the tub, said centering means having a threaded connection with the column and permitting vertical adjustment of the impeller member, and a nut for I locking said centering position.

member 'in fixed 2. A device of the class described, comprising a stationary tub, a water impeller thereinadapted to lie adjacent the bottom thereof, a driving connection for said water impeller and adjustable mechanism including an ad- .justable bearing for varying the position of said impeller vertically with relation to the bottom of the tub.

3. A device of the class described comprising a stationary tub having an annular depression therein,, a water impeller within said tub comprising a disk, water-agitating means on said disk, the periphery of said disk projecting within the annular depression in the tub, a driving connection for said water impeller, and mechanismfor adjusting said water impeller to vary the position of the periphery of the disk with respect to the annular depression.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature. i MARK A. DEFIBAUGH.

the machines are produced in lar e number's.

With respect to this means or varying 

